Amidst political unrest caused by a military Junta in the Republic of Niger, Nigeria’s Government has closed its borders linking the two West African countries.
The Nigerian government by its action, is restricting its’ citizens from visiting the country and engaging in any commercial activities that require migration to or from the country.
Acting Comptroller of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Bashir Adewale, in a statement on Friday, officially announced the closure of all Nigeria’s land borders with the neighbouring country.
The acting Comptroller made the announcement while he was in Magamar-Jibia, one of Nigeria’s border with the Niger Republic.
According to him, the closure of land borders order was issued by President Tinubu in line with the decision arrived at by ECOWAS.
Adewale declared that pending when normalcy is restored in the country, there would be no movement of goods from Nigeria to Niger and vice versa until further notice.
The Custom’s boss said, “My being in Magamar-Jibia, Nigeria border with the Niger Republic this afternoon is to announce the total blockade of movements of goods to the Niger Republic through all Nigeria land borders.
“The NCS, workings in synergy with other sister agencies will enforce the blockade order as given by President Bola Tinubu who is also the current Chairman of ECOWAS.
“The ECOWAS leaders collectively took the decision against the Niger Republic to kick against the military putsch in the Niger Republic.”
He also revealed that while he met some of the stakeholders at Magamar-Jibia, he pleaded for their understanding and cooperation with the NCS to see to the full implementation of the blockade order.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had on Friday, written to the Senate seeking its support for military intervention against the junta in the Niger Republic.
Tinubu who is also the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, had on Sunday, met with some fellow ECOWAS leaders to discuss appropriate ways to restore democracy in Niger.
The Nigerian president amongst other leaders of the West African regional bloc met to discuss sanctions to be placed against the military personnel who toppled Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023.
The leader of the junta, General Abdourahmane Tchiani-led was said to be considering recalling the Nigerien Ambassador to Nigeria after failing to come to terms with ECOWAS and Nigerian delegations on the need to return democracy to Niger.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu, in his letter to the Senate, sought the backing of the legislature on the cutting off of electricity to the country.
The President’s letter read, “Following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of its President, ECOWAS under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected govt in a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and came out with a communiqué.”
The President further sought support for, “military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant.
“Closure and monitoring of all land borders with the Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise, cutting off electricity supply to the Niger Republic, mobilising international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique.”
The letter further read, “Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic; blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports.”
Tinubu also told the Senate that the country was embarking on the sensitisation of Nigerians and Nigeriens to the imperative of these actions, particularly via social media.
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